How do caregivers perceive their child's language disorder? A study of quality, competence, and outcomes
Year: 2016
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Theoretically, caregiver perceptions (beliefs, opinions, and feelings regarding their child's language disorder) matter because a child's interactions are bi-directionally influenced by his environment. Caregiver perceptions may influence the nature of those interactions and by extension, impact children's language development. This study addressed three aims: (a) Too characterize caregivers' perceptions of the child's language disorder with regard to quality of communicative interactions, competence in communicative abilities, and outcomes of communicative improvement; (b) To determine the extent to which caregivers' perceptions align with speech-language pathologist (SLP) report; (c) To determine the extent to which caregiver and child factors predict alignment. Twenty-five caregivers and four SLPs completed this study. Eligible caregivers had 3- to 4-year-old children with language disorders who were currently receiving language treatment. Caregivers and SLPs were recruited from the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) Speech-Language and Hearing Clinic and Head Start campuses in Lubbock, Texas. Caregiver and SLP questionnaires were created to gather data for perceptions, caregiver factors (maternal education and self-efficacy), and child factors (gender and language disorder severity). Descriptive analyses were run to answer the first and second study aims, and regression analyses were run to answer the third study aim. Caregivers' perceptions were more positive and more variable than SLPs' perceptions. Caregivers' perceptions of outcomes (potential for their child's improvement) were greater than for quality (importance placed on communication) or competence (language performance), which was consistent with SLPs' perceptions. Caregivers were aligned with SLPs for an average of 24.2 statements of perception (SD = 4.26; range: 15 - 33; 54%). Finally, none of the factors examined in this study were significant predictors of alignment. Given the variability in caregiver perceptions, future research should explore the role of perceptions in children's language intervention across ages and disorders.
Author: Jennifer D. Selin
Language: English
Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3035529194